11th. November FridayManchesterJohn
Huntington,
D.D., first warden of the College, died November 11, and was buried at the east
end of the choir. His rebus is still to be seen upon the eastern side of
the middle arch of the choir. On the left-hand side of the arch is a huntsman
with dogs, and on the right-hand side a vessel called a tonne or tun; and these
devices put together represent the name of Huntington. “Dr. Huntington was
learned in the learning of those times: one very devout, magnificent, and of
public spirit. He was the mover and contriver of that great work of erecting the
stone church now in being, of which he built the choir and aisles.”(7)

1457.
Trafford Park

Sir
Edmund Trafford
of Trafford died. He was in the confidence of Henry VI., whose dreams of
avarice he fanned by visions of the philosopher’s stone, and of the possibility
of changing all the baser metals into gold and silver. On the 7th of April,
1446, the King granted a patent to this Trafford and to Sir Thomas Ashton,
setting forth that certain persons had maligned them with the character of
working by unlawful arts, and might disturb them in their experiments, and,
therefore, the King gave them special lease and licence to work and try their
art and science, lawfully and freely, in spite of any statute or order to the
contrary. The King, in issuing this commission, was overriding the provision of
5 Henry IV., c. 4, and if Sir Edmund succeeded in finding the aurum potabile
he carried the secret with him to the grave.(7)